Asus Zenpad 8 S Android 5 vs Android 6 Help - Asus Zenpad 8.0 Questions & Answers

I am about to pull my hair out here. I've been hunting all over the internet for the answer to this issue and I can't find it, so I am hoping that maybe you can provide some assistance. If you can, I would be very grateful!
My son has an ASUS ZenPad S 8.0. When we bought it, it was running Android 5. However, we recently had to send it in for repairs (he dropped it and cracked the screen and the ONLY way to get it fixed was to send it in). When we got it back (today), it was running Android 6. And wiped back to factory reset.
Not a big problem, right, 6 is a good OS.
However...he plays DragonCity. DragonCity does NOT save data to Google. So, to move the game from one device to another (or reinstall it on the tablet), you have to Root the device and install Titanium Backup to do backups and restores.
Except, I can't Root Android 6.
DragonCity can be saved to Facebook, but my son isn't ready to have a Facebook account...and the game play is different if you have a Facebook account, so that won't work.
He's been playing this game for nearly 2 years. Invested a great deal of time (and some real money) in it. He does NOT want to start all over again.
Is there anything I can do? I do have a backup of it saved to Titanium Backup, but no idea how to get it where it needs to go.
Again, thanks in advance for any help you can give me. I truly appreciate it.

In looking at the Titanium Backup I have saved in Google Drive, I see that there is a tar.gz, an apk.gz, and a properties file for each app that TB backs up.
Is there a way to unpack and/or the tar.gz and the properties files? The apk is the app, so downloading it from the Google Play store should be all I need to do to get it. I just don't know how to get the data moved. GAAAH!!!

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Making better backups

Today I use a combination of Titanium and Mybackup pro to do my backups/restores. It works pretty well, there are just some questions I have:
I would like to backup my phone settings (ringer volumes, vibration settings, security settings, etc.) - Is this backed up using Android settings in Mybackuppro?????
When restoring applications I would like them to restore to their backed up location (Phone vs. SD Card). I tried to select the option in Titanium to do so, but it didn't work. Any tips on getting that to work?
Is there anyway to backup touchwiz settings??? (widget locations, icon locations, etc.)
I think this is it for now.
I am bumping this as these questions are still needing answers please.
Bumping again guys. Please help!
I too originally purchased MyBackup Pro. It does a decent job, but it doesn't work as well as it should. I too have found that it doesn't restore everything you need it to. But, that's because it doesn't give you the kind of control that Titanium Backup does.
I finally bought Titanium Backup and started doing some reading on how to use it properly. As you play in the program, you are going to need to look up terms and read on how to properly use the features. It's just how it is. Remember, Android is running Linux under the hood. They really didn't intend the average person to get in there and get their hands dirty. That's why you have to ROOT your phone to even be able to get access to your Apps data.
I really hope at some point Android will get better about being able to do App Data backups! I would love it if there was an option to not only sync the apps that I have purchased (free or paid), but also the app data. Hopefully Google will include that some day. They're willing to backup all my picture for free to Google Plus, you'd think they would also do my App Data.
Here's some helpful instructions for Titanium backup. Enjoy!
Just type this in to Google Search.
how to backup and restore with titanium backup
I was going to give you a link, but it won't let me until I post 8 times. LOL
Smoke.007

[Q] Backup with Time Capsule

Hello there,
Is there any way to backup the Nexus 4 (or any Android probably) to a Time Capsule?
If it can't be done locally without connecting the phone to my computer, I suppose cloud backup would be fine.
If Time Capsule backup is not possible, what's the best setup people are using?
It could be one or multiple applications setup. It could be either Box, Dropbox, GDrive or similar, or just my own SFTP/FTP host.
What I would like is a solution that would automatically backup my phone (best would be a complete backup - but messages, call log, and SD card is the most important) when I connect to my home WIFI network. Is there such a thing?
It's always better free, but if it's a couple of dollars, it's fine too. Root solutions are acceptable.
Thanks.
If you are coming from the Apple world where your entire phone is automatically backed up in iTunes, you'll find Android does not officially support anything like that. Don't ask me why as I find it inexplicable that official support for this does not exist.
If you want to backup your entire phone you will most likely need root, and use something like Titanium backup. There is no support for Time Capsule here... that requires a Mac OS running Time Machine. As far as automating the process... I am not sure (maybe Tasker), but I doubt it.
If your just interested in apps and app data, you should be able to back that up using Carbon, and schedule backups as well.

Moving from G4 to 6P

So, I'm getting a 6P soon, and I was curious if there was an easy way to move all my stuff from the rom I have on my G4 to the 6P when I get it- accounts, apps, everything, so I don't have to take hours redoing everything again
Thanks
start fresh, my friend.
Yea start fresh. Like a new house. You don't want to bring all the old crap your new house that's why you get a new house. But when you setup your new phone it will ask if you want to migrate settings etc from another device it works pretty fast I have had to do it on my 6p when I install a ROM and it only took maybe half an hour to set up. It's actually super fast compared to last year technology
I just made the same move and Helium was the solution that I found. Lets you easily transfer app data without root which was the key for me.
You can backup your apps with Titanium Backup & then restore them
The only problem with Titanium is that it would require an immediate rooting of the N6P. I would recommend trying it un-rooted, at least initially.
Here is a link to a good guide on use of Carbon-Helium to move to an un-rooted phone:
http://lifehacker.com/5843206/how-to-upgrade-to-a-new-android-phone-and-take-everything-with-you
If you root your 6P, you can use Titanium Backup to restore your apps and certain app settings, but as far as accounts and so forth go, start fresh.
Unless you have the itch to root your 6P, I would stick to a purchase of Helium and use that on both devices to move anything that is devices specific. Only restore apps/games/saves that are device specific, don't try to do things like settings, apps with cloud saves, etc. Helium can be a bit tricky as you have to do a few steps to get the computer and device to recognize it but once running I've found it to work smoothly.
You could use android transfer or whatever its called. It mostly transfers your accounts though
If you plan on rooting, do that first.
When you unlock the bootloader, you have to wipe(everything) the device again.
At a minimum unlock the bootloader before you do anything for reason mentioned above.
I just transferred from a Note 5. The Android build-in transfer process will bring over your account info and WiFi passwords, and download your apps again, but that's about it. For SMS/call log, I recommend SMS Backup/Restore, for app data use Titanium Backup (so root is required). I wouldn't restore too much if you can help it just because it is a large change in systems. I only restored some app data to avoid logging into tons of apps again. Most everything else is cloud based nowadays.

[Q] Using Helium to restore apps and data? Keep getting errors.

So since I cant use TB right now. I am trying to use Helium to restore from my Galaxy S6 to my S8.
I already did smart switch to get the core around, but of course as expected it didnt do all my apps since some arent on play store. So now am trying to restore from my Helium backup, but many times it gets stuck on a restore for an app.
So just wondering, how else is everyone getting around all this? Thanks.
try again.
force stop the app on both devices and try again(make sure you do a sync, they're easier and more stable than backup-restore)
the backup process can be a bit unstable, some apps took several tries for me.
also good to know, running apps can't be transferred.
so kill any app you plan on transferring.
and smart switch does sideloaded and discontinued apps too if you use a cable to do the transfer.
Mysticales said:
So since I cant use TB right now. I am trying to use Helium to restore from my Galaxy S6 to my S8.
I already did smart switch to get the core around, but of course as expected it didnt do all my apps since some arent on play store. So now am trying to restore from my Helium backup, but many times it gets stuck on a restore for an app.
So just wondering, how else is everyone getting around all this? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had the same problem. The next day, I tried restoring one at a time and it worked. Then, I was able to restore the rest as a batch. I can't explain it.
thedicemaster said:
try again.
force stop the app on both devices and try again(make sure you do a sync, they're easier and more stable than backup-restore)
the backup process can be a bit unstable, some apps took several tries for me.
also good to know, running apps can't be transferred.
so kill any app you plan on transferring.
and smart switch does sideloaded and discontinued apps too if you use a cable to do the transfer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Smart Switch doesnt do the app data tho. So even with side loading, Id still be missing the data.
Now as for the sync. Are you doing to internal storage or google drive?
I did try restoring some apps one by one, and "says" complete, but never is. Doesnt even show it installed. So rather odd.
Just know right now. I am lil annoyed without root for a simple process to backup apps and data and restoring. Reminds me of when I do a clean windows install.... 3 days worth of setting up again vs 1 click of Titanium Backup restore. >.<
i used sync.
sync sends the backup straight to your new phone, and can only be triggered from your new phone.
you select your old phone from the restore screen, choose an app, and it will make a backup and sends it to your new phone, which then immediately installs it.
I can't get Helium to work on my S8+ at all. It says it restores apps and data, but the app is never installed. Tried one app at a time, everything. Helium worked fine going from my Note 4 to Note 7, then to my replacement Note 7, then from my Note 7 to my S7E. But from my S7E to my S8+ - it does not work. PITA and there are several apps I REALLY needed to migrate data.
did you try installing the app through the play store or smart switch first?
I didn't have any real issues, but I did go through smart switch first.
Anyone figure out the solution???? Please post
thedicemaster said:
i used sync.
sync sends the backup straight to your new phone, and can only be triggered from your new phone.
you select your old phone from the restore screen, choose an app, and it will make a backup and sends it to your new phone, which then immediately installs it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would be nice if I knew how "sync" mode worked. All I get from the restore/sync list under my devices is "An error occured while retrieving your device list"
I can't get Helium to recognize that the S8 is in PTP mode. Even when it is, Helium states that the phone is in MTP mode. Anyone else experiencing this problem with Helium and their Galaxy S8 Plus?
Same issue with helium, it restores everything but then the apps simply aren't there.
I've tried everything to make Helium work - still says apps installed, but they never do. Surely there has to be an answer to this riddle.
Same here. No luck on data / settings being restored
Anyone have any updates or other solutions we can use? Helium devs never responded back to me.. so I feel like I just wasted 5$ on them.
Maybe time to give a one star rating for them on the playstore until they address the issue.
thedicemaster said:
i used sync.
sync sends the backup straight to your new phone, and can only be triggered from your new phone.
you select your old phone from the restore screen, choose an app, and it will make a backup and sends it to your new phone, which then immediately installs it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is sync part of Smart Switch or Helium? Forgive me if question is obvious but since thread is about Helium, just wanted to make sure you are referring to a feature of SmartSwitch
Thanks
it's a feature in helium.
i don't know exactly how the devices find each other, but in my restore screen i can see my old phone as a source and if i select it i can choose from almost any app currently installed on my old phone and have it start a backup on the old phone that immediately restores on my S8.
it is far more reliable than backup to cloud for me.
thedicemaster said:
it's a feature in helium.
i don't know exactly how the devices find each other, but in my restore screen i can see my old phone as a source and if i select it i can choose from almost any app currently installed on my old phone and have it start a backup on the old phone that immediately restores on my S8.
it is far more reliable than backup to cloud for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sync doesn't work for me. I have an error,
An error occurred while retrieving your device list. Getting this on both the new SO and the source phone.
Any secrets to getting the device to list? I am running the latest version of Helium.
Sync doesn't work with the S8. I do believe it was an option when I went from my Note 4 to my Note 7, then from my first Note 7 to my second Note 7, and also available from my second Note 7 to my S7E back in early February. But there is something not allowing sync between devices on Helium and the S8/S8+. So synicing isn't an option when the phones are not being "seen" as being available to sync. As others have said, there is an error message saying phones aren't available or something similar.
thedicemaster said:
it's a feature in helium.
i don't know exactly how the devices find each other, but in my restore screen i can see my old phone as a source and if i select it i can choose from almost any app currently installed on my old phone and have it start a backup on the old phone that immediately restores on my S8.
it is far more reliable than backup to cloud for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CrozB said:
Sync doesn't work for me. I have an error,
An error occurred while retrieving your device list. Getting this on both the new SO and the source phone.
Any secrets to getting the device to list? I am running the latest version of Helium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also do you have to have premium version ?

Best Way to Back Up All Data and Apps Nexus 6P

I about to redo my phone completely and I still own Titanium Backup Pro, is that still the best way to backup everything or can I simply backups my files (photos, videos, PDF's etc...) and use Google's basic restore apps when I reboot my phone from stock?
I know TB is great but last time I used it, I felt there were some bugs and it couldnt restore some apps which was disturbing. Then in the end, I have no idea what is actually did and did not restore, a real PITA.
It also took forever and felt like it got stuck in some parts.
Are there any downsides to using Google apps restore feature? Not sure if that will also maintain all my game/app data.
I also read some good things about TunesGo Android Backup.
Dathaeus said:
I about to redo my phone completely and I still own Titanium Backup Pro, is that still the best way to backup everything or can I simply backups my files (photos, videos, PDF's etc...) and use Google's basic restore apps when I reboot my phone from stock?
I know TB is great but last time I used it, I felt there were some bugs and it couldnt restore some apps which was disturbing. Then in the end, I have no idea what is actually did and did not restore, a real PITA.
It also took forever and felt like it got stuck in some parts.
Are there any downsides to using Google apps restore feature? Not sure if that will also maintain all my game/app data.
I also read some good things about TunesGo Android Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Google apps restore has improved significantly since MM. I do keep TWRP Nandroid backups offline, but have not used them in ages. I use Google apps restore for all of my Play Store and System apps, and TiBu for the "non market" stuff... maybe ~30 apps? I zip the TiBu folder into a single file (Solid Explorer) and move it offline. When upgrading from 6-7 or 7-8, I just completely wipe the phone, flash a full image, let Google Play restore from the cloud. Then extract and use TiBu zip to restore the remaining apps. Icing is a Nova launcher backup to restore all the shortcuts and widgets, and my setup is 99% there in under one hour from a complete blank slate. I've also been experimenting with FlashFire to make ADB backups offline. Very slick backup tool, in addition to it's primary use of flashing monthly security updates. I have not yet restored a FF backup via ADB yet... I just keep one recent backup as a precaution. As for your other thread on rooting- I only see the upside. I don't see any downside. Android Pay not working irritates many, but I will never use that so not a concern. Why buy a Nexus if you're not going to unlock and root?
v12xke said:
The Google apps restore has improved significantly since MM. I do keep TWRP Nandroid backups offline, but have not used them in ages. I use Google apps restore for all of my Play Store and System apps, and TiBu for the "non market" stuff... maybe ~30 apps? I zip the TiBu folder into a single file (Solid Explorer) and move it offline. When upgrading from 6-7 or 7-8, I just completely wipe the phone, flash a full image, let Google Play restore from the cloud. Then extract and use TiBu zip to restore the remaining apps. Icing is a Nova launcher backup to restore all the shortcuts and widgets, and my setup is 99% there in under one hour from a complete blank slate. I've also been experimenting with FlashFire to make ADB backups offline. Very slick backup tool, in addition to it's primary use of flashing monthly security updates. I have not yet restored a FF backup via ADB yet... I just keep one recent backup as a precaution. As for your other thread on rooting- I only see the upside. I don't see any downside. Android Pay not working irritates many, but I will never use that so not a concern. Why buy a Nexus if you're not going to unlock and root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome reply, exactly what I was looking for thanks!
So u gave a lot of info and I just want to summarize what I should do to redo my phone as cleanly and quickly as possible, but first can you tell me how you personally differentiate the non-market stuff for TiB? Meaning I have like 200 total apps, so just trying to plan a process here.
Dathaeus said:
Awesome reply, exactly what I was looking for thanks! So u gave a lot of info and I just want to summarize what I should do to redo my phone as cleanly and quickly as possible, but first can you tell me how you personally differentiate the non-market stuff for TiB? Meaning I have like 200 total apps, so just trying to plan a process here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lots of tutorials out there on how to properly wipe and install a fresh stock image onto a blank phone. Probably the best example can be found on the Google webpage where you download the full image. I use Google restore for all system apps plus the apps I have paid for at the Google Play Store. I use TiBu only for those apps from elsewhere that are not backed up or restored by Google restore. It's made easy by TiBu because after Google restore is 100% complete restoring everything it possibly can, I fire up TiBu and use the "Restore Missing Apps" option.
Can't wait to see the day where all the apps (Gapps too) stop asking things you already seen or chosen when you do a factory reset or change your phone.
Android Backup and Restore has improved a lot, but still has a long road to go. Probably in the future, you just change the Phone and everything, not just some things, are restored. All the little checkbox you ticked in each of the apps. (With "Settings" app, this is happening a bit at the moment, some settings are restored).
Examples: "Dark theme enabled in Tapatalk" / "Use" or "Background activity disabled for Facebook Messenger lite".
thesebastian said:
Can't wait to see the day where all the apps (Gapps too) stop asking things you already seen or chosen when you do a factory reset or change your phone.
Android Backup and Restore has improved a lot, but still has a long road to go. Probably in the future, you just change the Phone and everything, not just some things, are restored. All the little checkbox you ticked in each of the apps. (With "Settings" app, this is happening a bit at the moment, some settings are restored).
Examples: "Dark theme enabled in Tapatalk" / "Use" or "Background activity disabled for Facebook Messenger lite".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean like with a full Nandroid backup? :laugh:
v12xke said:
You mean like with a full Nandroid backup? [emoji23]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No that's different... that's a copy of everything in the phone. I'm talking about Android backup and restore.
So you don't need to start configuring alarms, app and everything after you upgrade your phone.
Sent from my Nexus 6P
v12xke said:
Lots of tutorials out there on how to properly wipe and install a fresh stock image onto a blank phone. Probably the best example can be found on the Google webpage where you download the full image. I use Google restore for all system apps plus the apps I have paid for at the Google Play Store. I use TiBu only for those apps from elsewhere that are not backed up or restored by Google restore. It's made easy by TiBu because after Google restore is 100% complete restoring everything it possibly can, I fire up TiBu and use the "Restore Missing Apps" option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhhhhhhh perfect, I didnt see that "Restore Missing Apps" last time I did this but that was a looooooooooong time ago... I was just nervous about using TiB again bec last time it kept freezing and it was an exhaustive process and basically I just gave up, pissed me off on a paid app.
thesebastian said:
Can't wait to see the day where all the apps (Gapps too) stop asking things you already seen or chosen when you do a factory reset or change your phone.
Android Backup and Restore has improved a lot, but still has a long road to go. Probably in the future, you just change the Phone and everything, not just some things, are restored. All the little checkbox you ticked in each of the apps. (With "Settings" app, this is happening a bit at the moment, some settings are restored).
Examples: "Dark theme enabled in Tapatalk" / "Use" or "Background activity disabled for Facebook Messenger lite".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya seems like every app saves differently so thats why I laugh when people are like, whats the big deal, just redo your phone and only takes an hour.... um no. Maybe if you dont do much and use your phone to check email, calls, and texts and a couple of games but for me its an exhaustive process bec even after you think you restored, there are always some things in the subsequent weeks u find that wasnt restored, missing, or settings are all screwed up. Not a life breaker, but ya, someday maybe they will universally code settings the same way so a backup program can do something like what imaging does in Windows, although Android has many more roms and providers to deal with so u may need some additional steps anyways.
Yes it's a lot of work. For me is never an hour. It's like 3 hours after the android welcome assistant and then several days till I open app by app and setup the settings for each one of them.
Sent from my Nexus 6P
thesebastian said:
Yes it's a lot of work. For me is never an hour. It's like 3 hours after the android welcome assistant and then several days till I open app by app and setup the settings for each one of them.
Sent from my Nexus 6P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea that sounds much more realistic... some people try to oversimplify and think they are doing it in an hour but not.... or they just cant tell time.
I still use TiBi pro for backing app all of my apps. It's just quicker in my opinion. Immediately after flashing new images or roms, I just go into batch actions of TiBu and restore all missing apps with data. Takes about ten minutes and all my apps and data are restored.
Dathaeus said:
Yea that sounds much more realistic... some people try to oversimplify and think they are doing it in an hour but not.... or they just cant tell time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And I have to add that recently I'm just not rooting anymore...
Currently I have the 6P with open bootloader but just because by bank doesn't support android pay and I don't want to go through this android restore slow process.
Sent from my Nexus 6P
Pain-N-Panic said:
I still use TiBi pro for backing app all of my apps. It's just quicker in my opinion. Immediately after flashing new images or roms, I just go into batch actions of TiBu and restore all missing apps with data. Takes about ten minutes and all my apps and data are restored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You never had it freeze or not restore something properly? That is the one I am most worried about, its a highly frustrating process when an "automated restore" just doesnt finish the job after waiting over an hour, which is what happened last time I used it for my Galaxy S4, tried 3 times too, so I ditched it and used Google restore and dealt with all the settings after manually.
Dathaeus said:
You never had it freeze or not restore something properly? That is the one I am most worried about, its a highly frustrating process when an "automated restore" just doesnt finish the job after waiting over an hour, which is what happened last time I used it for my Galaxy S4, tried 3 times too, so I ditched it and used Google restore and dealt with all the settings after manually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No sir. I've been running TiBu pro on my Nexus 6p since launch. I've flashed almost every factory image/security update after completing a full wipe before each flash, thus removing all of my apps and data along with it. TiBu pulled through every time. I also make sure to do a batch "redo" of all my backups prior to wiping/flashing the device so this way all my apps data are up to date when I restore them. I'd be lost with TiBu!

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